Photo Credit: Threeming-JAPAN
Vintage Grand Seiko Hi Beat 6145 8000 with 61GS Movement
Buy It Now Price: $1,200 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)
Pros:
-Here is a vintage Grand Seiko Hi Beat 6145 8000 men’s stainless steel wristwatch from 1969 with a 25-jewel, 61GS automatic movement.
-This vintage Grand Seiko Hi Beat watch measures 37 mm (1.45 inches) wide (excluding the crown) by 42 mm (1.65 inches) long (including the lugs).
–Grand Seiko is the luxury marquee of Japanese watchmaker Seiko. First established in 1960, Grand Seiko sought to compete with the legendary Swiss watch manufacturers on their own turf. The company obsessively pursued quality, resulting in some truly spectacular vintage Japanese timepieces.
-Grand Seiko produced its iconic 61GS Hi Beat automatic movement from 1968 until 1975. The “Hi Beat” moniker refers to the fact that the movement functions at 36,000 BPH (beats per hour) versus less than 20,000 PBH for most 1960s era Swiss watches.
-Grand Seiko watches are superbly crafted and deserve to be considered the equal of storied Swiss luxury watch brands such as Rolex, Omega and Jaeger-LeCoultre.
-A high-beat (or Hi Beat – a Seiko specific marketing term) watch movement is desirable because it is slightly more accurate than lower PBH movements and provides for an intoxicatingly smooth sweep seconds hand.
-Prices for older Grand Seiko watches have increased dramatically over the past 10 to 15 years as the horological community has gradually discovered them. It used to be possible to pick up a vintage Grand Seiko Hi Beat watch for just a few hundred dollars back in the mid 2000s. Now, you’re realistically looking at $1,000 or higher for a 61GS example in good condition. But the quality is so outstanding that they are worth every penny of their new, higher price.
-It is common for the finely brushed case finish on these older Grand Seiko watches to be destroyed by even light polishing. Luckily, although it shows a bit of wear, this vintage Grand Seiko Hi Beat looks to be mostly intact.
-The Grand Seiko 6145 8000 in stainless steel had an original retail price of ¥37,000 in 1969, which was the princely sum of $103 at the then prevailing yen-dollar exchange rate of ¥358 per dollar. This would be the equivalent of over $700 in inflation-adjusted, 2018 dollars.
-I love the visually striking white on white look of this vintage Grand Seiko Hi Beat watch. The dazzling white dial and leather strap are perfectly offset by the subtle metallic sheen of the stainless steel case.
-Given this vintage Grand Seiko Hi Beat 6145 8000’s good condition and iconic status, I believe the $1,200 buy-it-now price is fair. However, if this is too rich for your wallet, you can always make the seller a lower offer.
Cons:
-The seller doesn’t mention the last time this 1969 Grand Seiko Hi Beat was serviced. Therefore, it should probably be serviced immediately. This would bump up the total price tag by a few hundred dollars (vintage Grand Seikos often have relatively high servicing costs because they are usually shipped back to Japan for the work).
-The watch’s condition is not perfect, with a touch of corrosion underneath the rim of the case-back. In addition, the white leather strap looks a bit worn and will probably need to be replaced soon. However, this is to be expected in a well-loved vintage watch that is nearly 50 years old.
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